Attachment of convertible top fabric to side rail



July 7, 1959 s. c. POLLOCK ATTACHMENT OF CONVERTIBLE TOP FABRIC TO SIDE RAIL Filed Dec. 1, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet. 1

INVENTOR. Samzeld/Qr/[oci AT TOR/V5) July 7, 1959 s. c. POLLOCK ATTACHMENT OF CONVERTIBLE TOP FABRIC TO SIDE RAIL Filed Dec. 1, 1955 s Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V ENTOR.

ATTO RNEY July 7, 1959 s. c. POLLOCK ATTACHMENT OF CONVERTIBLE TOP FABRIC TO SIDE RAIL Filed Dec. 1, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. fe/7221a! Wailoai Z/ M gwonusv United States Patent ATTACHMENT CONVERTIBLE TOP FABRIC 1 TO SIDE RAIL Samuel C. Pollock, Royal Oak, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware This invention relates generallyto convertible automobile tops and, more particularly, to structures for attaching the top fabric in the rear quarter area to parts of the collapsible frame of the top operating mechanism.

The invention seeks to avoid difliculties encountered with certain forms of foldable top designs in which conventional methods of attaching. the top material to the rear roof bow and the roof side rail adjacent the rear edge of the rear window were found to cause the top material to tear in the process of lowering the top. This difficulty is due to lack of slack in the top' material between its points of attachment to the rear side rail and roof bow or the inability of the material to shift longitudinally of the rail or to separate therefrom in the process of lowering the top.

The invention has among its objectsto provide apparatus for attaching the top fabric in the rear quarter area as will provide the necessary slack in the top material orpermit the top material to separate from, shift or move freely with respect to parts of the collapsible frame in the process of lowering the top in order to avoid the aforementioned difficulties.

Another object is to provide such apparatus in which the necessary slack, shiftable movement or separation in the top material is automatically produced without attention of the operator in the process of. lowering of the top.

A specific object is to provide a form of attachment apparatus in which shiftable or slidable movement of the top material relative to parts of the collapsible frame is automatically produced without attention of the operator in the process of both lowering and raising of the top.

Another object is to provide a form of attachment in which the fabric rises, draws taut and seals automatically in the process of raising the top.

Another object is to provide such top attaching structures and apparatus thatdoes not detract from the appearance of the vehicle when the top is in raised position.

Another object-is to provide fastening apparatus of the above character which is adapted to provide a weatherproof, tight seal of the top fabric to the collapsible frame when the top is in raised position.

Still another object is to provide such fastening apparatus which is adjustable to hold the top fabric securely and tautly against the frame to remove any wrinkles and bulges from the fabric and to provide fabric tension for sealing when the top is raised.

The above and other objects of the present invention will appear more fully from the following description and drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a view of the rear quarter area of a raised structures of the present invention may be embodied;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the plane 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing one manner in which the top convertible top in which the top attachment devices and Fig. 3 is a view of a form of fabric tension adjusting and attachment mechanism that may be employed in the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a View taken in the plane 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is another form of tension adjusting mechanism; and Fig. 5A is an enlargement of a part of Fig. 5;

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged sectional Views of automatic or self-opening devices for attaching the top fabric to the rear roof side rail in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 8 is a view of the rear quarter area of a convertible top showing a preferred form of attaching device in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken in the direction 99 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is another form of fabric tensioning device; and

Fig. 11 is a view taken in the direction 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 illustrates the .rear quarter section of a convertible vehicle having a collapsible top 10 which may be raised and lowered'relative to the vehicle body 12 by means of a foldable frame 14. The frame may be of the type more fully shown and described in copending US. patent application, Serial No. 509,843, filed May 20, 1955, of common ownership herewith and includes a rear side rail section 16 on each side of the body extending generally longitudinally thereof and a rear roof bow 18 extending transversely of the body. Each of the side rail sections and the rear roof bow are pivotally connected below the vehicle belt line 20 to an inner rear side panel of the car body, as indicated generally at 24 and 26. The top fabric in the rear quarter area is attached to the side rail sections adjacent the rear edge of the rear window 28, to the rear bow 18 and to a tacking strip 30 located below the belt line and within the body.

Since the pivot points 24 and 26 are spaced from each other, the top fabric in the rear quarter area adjacent the rear side rail sections must either separate from or shift or move longitudinally of the rear side rail in order to prevent tearing of the fabric in the process of lowering the top.

Fig. 2 illustrates one manner in which this slack may be provided as by a bellows 32 or pocket-like flap of lightweight material fastened between the side rail 16 and the top fabric 10 along the edge adjacent the rear window of the vehicle. The bellows 32 may be formed of a pair of generally arcuate-shaped sides or flaps 33, 34 of material which are seamed about their rearwardly extending or arcuate edges with one of the flaps 33 clamped at its forward portion between a Weatherstrip 36 and a forwardly facing portion 38 of the side rail 16. The top fabric adjacent an outwardly facing edge portion 39 of the side rail is folded around the forward edge of the other side or flap 34 of the bellows and may have a suitable bead 40 at the forward edge thereof to clamp the flap and the folded top fabric together and provide a stiffened edge therefor. I

When the top is being lowered the excess material of the bellows or pocket-like flap 32 provides the necessary slack between the rear bow 18 and the side rail 16 and permits the top fabric to move with respect to the side rail and to separate therefrom, thereby accommodating folding movement of the top without tearing of the fabric. When the top is raised, the bellows is out of sight from the exterior of the vehicle and seals the forward portion of the top of the side rail without detracting from the appearance of the vehicle. When the top is raised the bellows may drain into a gutter customarily provided in the body.

The lower corner 42 of the top fabric, which is located below the belt line and within the body of the vehicle, is held tightly against the rear bow 18 when the top 1s raised by the mechanism shown in Figs. 3 and which provideproper tension of the top fabric and avoids formation of Wrinkles and bulges therein when the top is raised and does not interfere with or resist folding movement of the frame in lowering of the top. The apparatus of Figs. 3 and 4 includes a bracket 44 and threaded block or lug 46 both of which are attached to and carried by the. rearhow. The bracket 44 has an elongated slot 48 therein which receives the body of a screw 50 that passes through an opening or eyelet in the corner of the top fabric clamping the lower corners of the flaps 33 and 34 of the bellows and the folded corner of the top fabric 19 between the enlarged head 51 of the screw and the outer face of the bracket, as shown in Fig. 4. The screw 50 mounts a floating slide 52 in the form of a washer on the inner side of the bracket 44 opposite the fabric material. The position of the slide 52 is adjusted longitudinally of the slot 48 by means of a threaded adjusting screw 54 which is threadabl-y received and passes through the lug 44 and engages a tapered face portion 56 of the slide 52, as shown.

Figs. and 5a illustrate another structure for attaching the corner of the top fabric below the belt line of the vehicle and includes a bracket 60 on the rear how 18. The bracket is slotted as shown at 6 2 and has an elongated ring 6.4 swingably mounted on the inner face of the bracket above the slot 62. The corner of the top is provided with a strip of fabric 66 sewn to a reinforcing gusset and passes first through the ring 64 and then through the slot 62 to anchor the top at this point.

Figs. 6 and 7 illustrate another form of slack-producing attachment arrangement which may be provided to. attach the top fabric to the roof side rail. The arrangements comprise a zipper 70 having its locking provision removed to allow automatic opening of the zipper in order to strip or separate the top from the side rail as the top is being lowered. The zipper is provided with a zipper tab 72, which is operated manually from the interior of the car to close the attachment and to seal the top fabric to the side rail after the top has been raised. In the version of Fig. 6, the tape 74 for one side of the zipper is attached to the top fabric while the tape 76 for the other side of the zipper is clamped between the Weatherstrip 36. and a forwardly facing portion of the side rail 16, as shown. In Fig. 7 a slightly wider tape 76' is provided for the side of the zipper attached to the rear side rail so that the juncture of the top fabric and side rail will be moved slightly rearwardly'of the side rail.

In the preferred form. of the invention shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the outwardly facing edge 80 of the rear roof rail 16 has an outwardly facing, box-shaped channel or guide section 82 attached thereto, and the top fabric adjace'nt the side rail is provided with one or more peripherally spaced buttons or like member shown at 84. The buttons may be formed of nylon or the like and have theirheads received between the flanges of the channel to prevent lateral movement therebetween. As is apparent from the drawing, the buttons slide in the channel section as the top is being raised and lowered, and thus automatically provide the necessary slack or movement in the fabric relative to the side rail with bothlowering and raising movement of the top. It will be noted that this construction permits the fabric adjacent the side rail to rise, draw taut and seal automatically with raising of the top.

Figs. 10 and 11 show another tensioning and corner attaching arrangement for the corner of the top and includes an angular bracket 90 secured to. the rear roof bow 18. The bracket is provided with an elongated slot shown at 92' and also carries a threaded *lug 94. A barrel nut 96 extendsthrough thecorner of the top fabric below the belt line of the vehicle and is threadably attached to an eye pivot 98. i The pivot 98 receivesone end of a threaded L-shaped arm 109, the other end of which extends through a rubber washer 102 and a circular washer 104 on one side of the bracket and then throughthe bracket slot 92 and a floating slide 106. The slide 106 is provided with a reduced portion 108 that moves in the slot 92 and is brazed to the washer 104 and with a laterally flanged pogtion 110. The end of the arm extending through the slide is loosely pinned thereto as shown at 112, and an adjusting screw 114 threadably mounted in the log 94 has its lower end abutting against an inclined face 116 ofthe slide to move it longitudinally of the slot 92 and adjust the fabric tension.

The arm 100 has a limited amount of rotational movement in the slide 106' and may assume the several positions shown in Fig. 10.

What is claimed is:

1. In a vehicle body, the combination comprising, a foldable topframe mounted on said body for movement between raised and lowered positions and including a pair of spaced foldable side rails, each having a rear rail section, a convertible top supported by said frame for movement therewith and i ncluding a rear quarter edge portion located adjacent said rear rail section, and means operatively interconnecting said rear rail section and said edge portion and permitting relative movement therebetween during movement of said top frame to thereby respectively produce slack in said top during lowering movement of said top frame and take up slack in said top during raising movement of said top frame.

2. Apparatus of .thecharac'ter described in claim 1, wherein the means operatively interconnecting the rear rail section and the edge portion of the convertible top comprise a bellows type folded flap of material having one side thereof attached to said rear rail section and the other side thereof attached to said rear quarter edge portionof said convertible top.

3. In a vehicle body, the combination comprising, a foldable top frame mounted on said body for movement between raised and lowered positions and including a pair of spaced foldable side rails, each having a rear rail section extending generally longitudinally of said body, a convertible top supported by said frame for movement therewithv and including a rear quarter edge portion extending generally longitudinally of said body and located in juxtaposed relationship to said rear rail section, and means operatively interconnecting said juxtaposed rear rail section and said edge portion and permitting relative movement therebetween longitudinally of said body during movementof said topframe to thereby respectively produce slack in said: top during lowering movement of said top frame and take up slack in said top during raising movement of said top'frame.

4. In a vehicle body, the combination comprising, a foldable top' frame mounted on said body for movement between raised and lowered positions and including a pair of spaced foldable side rails, each having .a rear rail section, a convertible top supported by said frame for movement therewith and including a rear quarter edge portion located in juxtaposed relationship to said rear rail section, channel means on said rear rail section, and means on said edge portion s'lidable relative to said channel means during movement of said top frame to thereby respectively produce slack in said top during lowering movement of said top frame and take up slack. in said top during raising movement of said top frame.

5. In a vehicle body, the combination comprising, a foldable top frame mounted on said body for movement between raised and lowered positions and including a pair of spaced foldable side rails, each having are'ar' rail section, 'a' convertible top supported by said frame for movement therewith and including a rear quarter edge portion located in juxtaposed relationship to said rear rail section,.channel1means on said rear rail section, and guide means on said' edge portion slidable within said channel means during movement of said top frame to 5 thereby respectively produce slack in said top during lowering movement of said top frame and take up slack in said top during raising movement of said top frame.

6. In a vehicle body, the combination comprising, a foldable top frame mounted on said body for movement between raised and lowered positions and including a pair of spaced foldable side rails, each having a rear rail section, a convertible top supported by said frame for movement therewith and including a rear quarter edge portion located in juxtaposed relationship to said rear rail section, channel means on said rear rail section, and a plurality of spaced guide means on said edge portion received within said channel means and slidable therein during movement of said top frame to thereby respectively produce slack in said top during lowering movement of said top frame and take up slack in said top during raising movement of said top frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Campbell June 9, 1931 Carlson June 16, 1931 Cromwell Sept. 20, 1949 Mackie et a1. Oct. 2, 1951 Scha-mel Aug. 18, 1953 Ulrich Nov. 16, 1954 Orr Apr. 26, 1955 Orr June 28, 1955 Hennessy Nov. 27, 1956 Zaravsey Mar. 12, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Switzerland Nov. 30, 1938 

